Pattern chain control mechanism



May 27, 1941.- ,.A. E. PAGE f PATTERN CHAIN CONTROL MECHANISM Filed Feb. 4, 1939 2 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR ALBERT E. PAGE BY HIS ATTORNEYS' May 27, 1941. A. E. PAGE PATTERN CHAIN- CONTROL MECHANISM Filed Feb. 4, 1959 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 ALBERT E. 'PAGE BY HIS ATTORNEYS 6 m Patented May 27, 1941 PATTERN CHAIN CONTROL MECHANISM Albert E. Page, Laconia, N. H., assignor to Scott &

Williams, Incorporated 'Laconi'a, N. H., a corporation of Massachusetts ApplicaticnFebruary 4, 1933, Serial N 0. 254,791

12 Claims.

This invention relates to means for controlling the pattern chains of knitting machines and more particularly circular knitting machines having a plurality of yarn feeds and it is an object of this invention to provide means for advanci-ng the pattern chains of circular knitting machines additional fractional portions of the length of a chain link "without interfering with or modifying the usual operation of the pattern chain and the main pattern drum whereby the number of courses knit in the formation of a part of a stocking may be changed. It is also an object of this invention to provide pattern chain advancing means of such construction that 7 it is controlled by the pattern chain.

In the drawings in which a preferred modification of, this invention is shown Figure 1 is a fragmentary view in side elevation showing the application of this invention to 3. Scott and Williams circular knitting machine, only such par-ts of the machine being shown as is necessary to illustrate the invention, and the parts being shown in position for a normal operation of the pattern chain;

Figure 2 is a view similar to Figure 1, some parts shown in Figure 1 being omitted, and the parts being shown in position for advancing the chain link an additional fractional portion thereof;

Figure 3 is a view similar to- Figure 2, the parts being shown positioned to advance the pattern chain to a greater extent than in Figure 2;

Figure 4 is a partial View, similar to Figure 3, but viewed from the opposite side of the structure of Figure 3 and showing the means for controlling the operating pawl;

Figure 5 is a top plan view of the structure of Figure 2; and

Figure 6 is a partial vertical sectional view taken as on line 6-6 of Figure 3.

In the circular knitting machines of the Scott and Williams type the usual arrangement is to rack the pattern chain forward one-third the length of one of the chain links every fourth revolution of the needle cylinder so that on a single feed machine one link of the pattern chain corresponds to twelve courses of knitting. This is a reasonably satisfactory arrangement inasmuch as twelve courses of knitting approximate the dilierence in length between stocking feet of successive sizes and the change from one size to another can be readily made by adding a link to or taking a link from the pattern chain. In a three feed machine, however, with three courses being knit each revolution of the needle cylinder racking the pattern chain every fourth revolution makes each racking of the pattern chain correspond to twelve courses or one size and a link tothirty-six courses or three sizes. It is necessary, therefore, to provide means on a three-feed machine for changing the length of the chain with respect to the revolutions of the needle cylinder by a fraction of the length of a chain link. Thus, if the pattern chain can be advanced an extra one or two racks during the knitting of the foot on a three-feed machine the size of the foot is reduced one or two sizes thereby and, if an extra link has also been added to this portion of the patternchain, the length of the foot is increased only two sizes or one thereby instead of the three sizes normal-1y resulting from the addition of a chain link.

In the drawings in which is illustrated a preferred construction of this invention there is shown a means for operating the pattern chain such as is shown in the patent to Scott, No. 1,152,850, issued September 7th, 1915 and comprising the gear sector ?5 which drives the needle cylinder in reciprocating knitting through pinion sleeved on the shaft 32 and which is rotatably mounted on a shaft 16 carried by the machine frame. The gear sector :5 is operated by a link which is pivotally connected to the gear sector H5 and to a gear (not shown) which is driven from the usual drive pulley by means of a pinion S8 sleeved on the shaft 32. The gear sector is formed with a hub having an ear 15 to which a pawl 87 is pivotally connected by a pin 88, the pawl 81 being positioned to en gage a ratchet wheel 85 formed integral with or attached to a sprocket '84 for the pattern chain 85, the wheel 86 and sprocket 8 being journalled on the shaft which carries the main pattern drum (not shown). In theusual construction, movement of the pawl 81 by the operation of the gear sector 15 advances the wheel 86 one tooth for each operation of, the gear sector 75 and each tooth is equal to one-third the length of a chain link. A movement of the pawl occurs every fourth revolution of the needle cylinder.

To provide for the operation of the pattern chain an additional fraction of the length of a link the ear 15* on the hub of the gear sector .15 to which the pawl Bl is connected is made of such length that the full movement of the pawl 81 is suflicient to shift the wheel 86 and the sprocket 84 the distance of several teeth, three in the construction shown, of the wheel 86 and means are provided whereby the action of the .pawl 81 may be governed so as to shift the wheel number, as desired.

To control the operation of the pawl 87 there is provided a pawl controller 68 having a lateral extension 69 intermediate its length by which it is pivotally supported from a rod 93 carried by the machine frame. At one end the controller 60 is provided with a slot in which is secured a pin 62 positioned so as to project over the pattern chain 85 and to be engaged by a lug or lugs 85! thereon. At its other end the pawl 6B is provided with a lateral extension 60 which extends across the pattern chain 85 to a position beneath the pawl 81. The lateral extension 59 is bent so as to clear the lugs on the pattern chain 85 and at its end is provided with a portion 60 extending in the direction of the movement of the pattern chain and furnishing a surface upon which the outer end of the pawl can travel for a portion of its movement.

The pawl controller 60 is biased, either by the distribution of its weight or by means of a suitable spring, to a position in which the pin 62 contacts the pattern chain. In this position of the pawl controller the end portion 66 thereof holds the pawl 87 raised to such a position, as shown in Figure 1, that the forward movement of the pawl 8'! advances the wheel 85 and the pattern chain 85 only the distance of a single tooth or a third of the length of a pattern chain link. At the point in the length of the pattern chain where a movement of the pattern chain to the extent of an additional fraction of a chain link is desired, a chain link with a lug 85! is provided so positioned in the chain that a lug Bill will be beneath the pin 62 at the time the additional movement of the pattern chain is desired.

Movement of a lug 85! beneath the pin 62 of the pawl controller occurs during a movement of the pattern chain 85 by the pawl 81 and it shifts the pawl controller so as to lower the end portion 66 thereof to a greater or less extent, depending upon the height of the lug 85L Lowering the end portion 60 of the pawl controller 69 permits the end of the pawl 81 to remain at lowerposition when drawn back and causes the pawl, in its next forward movement, to engage the wheel 86 sooner and to shift it further; thus, in,- stead of the distance of the single tooth of the usual movement, the wheel 86 can be shifted the distance of two teeth where the end portion 60 and the pawl 8'! are lowered but a short distance, as shown in Figure 2, or three teeth when the end portion 60 is lowered still further, as shown in Figure 3, the distance the wheel 86 is advanced depending upon the height of the lug 85 and the distance the end portion 6090f the pawl controller is lowered thereby. This arrangement permits of controlling the extent to which the pattern chain is advanced by the lugs on the pattern chain and affords a means by which the pattern chain can be advanced an additional one or two-thirds of a pattern chain link and on a three-feed machine provides a means for adjusting the size of the foot, for example, to one or two sizes smaller or, when a link is added to the pattern chain, to two sizes or one larger.

The movement of the pattern chain 85 by the pawl 81 after the pawl controller 69 has been operated by a lug on the pattern chain causes the lug to be moved from beneath the pin 62 releasing the pawl controller 6!] to return to its normal position, as shown-in Figure 1, so that upon return of the pawl 81 it is held in position to advance the wheel 8% but a single tooth and the normal operation of the pattern chain is resumed.

What is claimed is:

1. In a circular knitting machine, a pattern chain, a rotatable sprocket for said chain, ratchet means secured to said sprocket, a pawl engaging said ratchet means to advance said chain, pawl operating means for operating said pawl through a movement of uniform extent at each operation thereof, a pawl controller for controlling the engagement of said pawl and ratchet for controlling the extent to which said pawl advances said chain and means on said chain for operating said pawl controller to vary the extent to which said pawl advances said chain.

2. In a hosiery knitting machine for knitting stockings of different lengths, a pattern chain for controlling the length of stocking being knitted, a pawl and ratchet for racking said chain through a complete cycle by a maximum number of chain racking movements to produce a stocking of maximum length, pawl operating means operating said pawl through a movement of uniform extent at each operation thereof and a pawl controller controlling the engagement of said pawl and ratchet and operated by said chain to vary the effective operating stroke of said pawl for racking said chainthrough a complete cycle by a lesser number of chain racking movements to produce a stocking of shorter length.

3. In a circular knitting machine, a pattern chain for controlling the length of a knit fabric portion, a pawl for operating said chain, pawl operating means operating said pawl through a movement of uniform extent at each operation thereof and means controlled by said pattern chain for varying the effective operating stroke of said pawl to vary the length of said fabric portion.

4. In a circular knitting machine, a pattern chain for controlling the length of a knit fabric portion, a pawl for operating said chain, pawl operating means operating said pawl through a movement of uniform extent at each operation thereof, said pawl having a uniform effective operating stroke for producing a fabric portion of a certain length and means controlled by said pattern chain for varying the effective operating stroke of said pawl to cause a predetermined variation in the length of said fabric portion.

5. In a circular knitting machine, a pattern chain for controlling the length of a knit fabric portion, a pawl for operating said chain, pawl operating means operating said pawl through a movement of uniform extent at each operation thereof, said pawl having a uniform effective operating stroke for producing a fabric portion of a maximum length and means controlled by said pattern chain for increasing the effective operating stroke of said pawl to cause said fabric portion to be knit of a shorter length.

6. In a circular knitting machine, a pattern chain, a pawl and ratchet for operating said chain in uniform step by step operations to determine the length of a knit fabric portion, pawl operating means operating said pawl through a movement of uniform extent at each operation thereof and means controlling the engagement'of said pawl and ratchet and operated by said chain for lengthening an operation of said chain by said pawl to shorten the length of a knit fabric portion.

'7. In a' circular knitting machine, a pattern chain, a pawl and ratchet for operating said determ ne the lengths of knit fabric portions,

pawl operating means operating said pawl through a movement of uniform extent at each operation thereof and means controlling the engagement of said pawl and ratchet and operated by said chain for lengthening by a link fraction an operation of said chain by said pawl to shorten the length of a knit fabric portion.

8. In a circular knitting machine, a pattern chain, a pawl and ratchet for operating said chain in uniform step by step operations to determine the lengths of knit fabric portions, pawl operating means operating said pawl through a movement of uniform extent at each operation thereof and means controlling the engagement of said pawl and ratchet and operated by said chain for lengthening by a variable link fraction an operation of said chain by said pawl to shorten the length of a knit fabric portion.

9. In a circular knitting machine, a pattern chain, a pawl and ratchet for operating said chain in a uniform step by step operation thereof, pawl operating means operating said pawl through a movement of uniform extent at each operation thereof and means operated by said pattern chain for controlling the engagement of said pawl and ratchet to increase the extent of an operation of said chain by said. pawl.

10. In a circular knitting machine, a pattern chain, a pawl and ratchet for operating said chain in a uniform step by step operation thereof, pawl operating means operating said pawl through a movement of uniform extent at each operation thereof and means operated by said pattern chain for controlling the engagement of said pawl and ratchet to increase an operation of said chain by a variable amount.

11. In a circular knitting machine, a pattern chain, a pawl and ratchet for operating said chain in a uniform step by step operation thereof, pawl operating means operating said pawl through a movement of uniform extent at each operation thereof and means operated by said pattern chain for controlling the engagement of said pawl and ratchet to increase an operation of said chain by the length of one or more steps of the uniform operation of said chain.

12. In a circular knitting machine, a pattern chain, a pawl and ratchet for operating said chain in a uniform step by step operation thereof, pawl operating means operating said pawl through a movement of uniform extent at each operation thereof, and means operated by said pattern chain for controlling the engagement of said pawl and ratchet to increase an operation of said chain by variable fraction of the length of a link of said chain.

ALBERT E. PAGE. 

